Politics could harbor psychopaths - GUEST OPINION

Psychologists Robert Hare and Paul Babiak identified psychopaths who didn't regularly hang out at the Bates Motel. Instead, their book, "Snakes in Suits," describes psychopaths also found in political or business offices. Psychopaths found there are mostly undetectable because one psychopathic trait is to hide behind what Hare has called "a mask of sanity."

There are subtle clues. Psychopaths tell lies, convincingly and with aplomb. Although they are remote and unfeeling, they pretend empathy. They have facile language skills. They may smile profusely and say they "feel your pain," but they are faking that, too. A psychopathic con artist feels no remorse when victimizing grandma, whether stealing her life savings or as a politician might do, confiscating her estate.

Because psychopaths believe themselves invincible, they take risks for thrills. They are egocentric. While eager to mug for any honors that come their way, they quickly deny responsibility for anything bad. Psychopaths flock to the performing arts where egos can blossom and acting is rewarded. Some of Hollywood's better known actors have been tagged as psychopaths.

Shakespeare likely knew a few at the Globe Theater. Many of his characters were psychopaths. Richard III was his most notorious, but there are other contemporary names. One of England's World War II political leaders and an American General have been cited as having psychopathic attributes. In most cases, a high degree of intelligence allows psychopathy to attend societal accomplishment and hide the flaw.

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Although generalizing psychopathic criteria, Hare's book has certain avocations more likely than others to harbor psychopaths. The label itself has unfortunate connotations because all psychopaths aren't evil. Those politicians with a psychopathic bent likely only lack a few human emotions and only in lesser degrees. Despite such flaws, and with unalterable DNA, suspect politicians, through no fault of their own, simply care much more about themselves than their constituents.

That some politicians could be psychopaths is explainable. Where else can ego flourish, and where else does glib speech win friends without the need to establish interpersonal warmth? Where else is grandiosity not only acclaimed, but made a reward for power seeking? What better for risk and excitement than political mountain climbing with its potential falls from grace? Where else is theater required, first sharing the pain of one constituent, only to blubber with another while taking the opposite side of the issue?

Because psychopaths are born, not made, they are usually flawed from childhood. Whether becoming politicians or something else, the more intelligent learn to hide their psychopathy to fake emotions they don't really possess. They become glib and good liars. But how do we apply Hare's criteria? How can we discover the political psychopaths amongst us?

Turning to our own political leaders for guidance, Fox News commentator and psychiatrist Charles Krauthammer has often said we should concentrate on their actions or lack thereof, not their words. Suspect politicians would likely blame the sequester or others for closing down popular government programs, just as school administrators threaten to cut band and football if a millage election fails.

A politician might disregard the enormity and seriousness of the public debt, while straddling the issue by blaming the other political party for it. While lies and political deceit might not lead to psychopathic tendencies and armchair diagnosis for anything as serious as psychopathy is professionally unacceptable, such analysis does illustrate the conjoining of economics with psychology.

If you suspect your elected representative is the devil incarnate, and even after allowing they can't help it because it's probably in their DNA, you might want to vote them out anyway before becoming their next victim.